Duplin ’s best educators receive top honors

WALLACE — Educators from all over the county were honored on Aug. 21 at an elaborate banquet at the River Landing Clubhouse Ballroom. The Duplin County Education Foundation and Duplin County Schools combined to honor teachers and support staff with plaques and monetary gifts.

Every school year, teachers from every school in the district nominate their own Teachers of the Year. Individual schools also do this for Support Staff of the Year. These winners are honored at their local schools, but also go on to present before a panel of judges for the overall countywide Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year awards from the Duplin County Education Foundation.

“This is the third year I have been a part of the interviews and the judging and it has always been a very rewarding experience,” said Wayne Casteen, Duplin County Education Foundation president.

The Duplin County Education Foundation has been supporting education since its founding in 1983 under the vision of Austin Carter. In addition to banquets and awards to educators, they also give scholarships to students.

“This past year, the foundation funded over $79,000 in scholarships for our senior graduates,” Casteen said.

After an invocation from Pastor Aaron Smith of Kenansville Baptist Church, the banquet began with a buffet of three meats, four sides, bread and dessert. Following dinner, two Kenansville Elementary School sixth graders, Chasen McLamb and Rainor Bland, sang A Million Dreams.

Following the entertainment, Interim Superintendent for Duplin County Schools Daren Tyndall presented the awards for Assistant Principal of the Year and Principal of the Year.

Beverly Sholar of East Duplin High School won Assistant Principal of the Year. Thomas Nichols of Wallace-Rose Hill High School won Principal of the Year. Both recipients were given engraved plaques and monetary awards of $1,000 each.

Kendra Jones, vice president of the Duplin County Education Foundation, then presented engraved plaques and monetary awards of $500 to each of the school and department representatives.

Support Staff candidates were:

• Laura Thornton, Digital Learning and Media coordinator

• Teri Jo Davis, school social worker

• Emelie Anderson, school nurse

• Tracy Cruse, school counselor

• Teacher candidates were:

• Kari Roberts, Beulaville Elementary

• Karen Rouse, B.F. Grady Elementary

• Jeffery Hall, Center of Opportunity

• Olivia Tate, Chinquapin Elementary

• Patrick Williams, Duplin Early College High School

• Amanda Jenkins, East Duplin High

• Hannah Bell, James Kenan High School

• Linsey McLamb, Kenansville Elementary

• Melanie Powell, North Duplin Elementary

• Beth Rose, North Duplin Jr./Sr.

• Melsheena Wilson, Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary

• Katrina Whitehead, Wallace Elementary School

• Laterri Underwood, Wallace-Rose Hill High School

• Lamanda Flowers, Warsaw Elementary

Laura Thornton won the 2025-2026 Support Staff of the Year Award. In her letter of recommendation, Thornton’s principal said, “Mrs. Thornton brings unmatched passion, creativity, and leadership to everything she does. She quite literally puts the ‘rock’ in rockstar.”

Thornton was awarded a plaque and a monetary award of $2,500.

Daylan Wise of North Duplin Elementary won the 2025-2026 Beginning Teacher of the Year with a plaque and a monetary award of $1,000.

Beth Rose won the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year Award. The North Duplin Jr./Sr. High School  teacher was awarded a plaque and a monetary award of $5,000. “Mrs. Rose is everything we hope for in a teacher,” said NDJS principal Tony Jones. “She promotes excellence in education, uplifts those around her, and makes a lasting difference in the lives of her students.”

Rose and Nichols will go on to represent the county in state-level Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year competitions.